Do The Clippers Need To Go Back To Blake More?

We are on a 5 game win streak sure. The team looks much better on defense and Barnes is killing it. Something that I've noticed the last 5 games though is that the team isn't feeding Blake near as much and is shooting more jumpers. Right now it's working because shots are falling and Barnes is red hot from outside. My concern though is that when Barnes inevitably cools down, the offense will sputter since Blake hasn't been as involved. It's not only the team's fault because Blake has lost a lot of that aggression lately, so much of the "blame" is on him. I'm just saying do you guys think the team should get back to feeding Blake more and that he should attack more? I personally think that style is far more sustainable than raining down 3's with all the streaky shooters we have.

Silasie

03/05/2014 - 11:40 AM PST

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While the streak is on, yes milk it but also I think we should go to Blake a bit more for exactly the reasons you pointed out.

ClippersDA

03/05/2014 - 11:43 AM PST

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Agree 100 percent with the original post. I don't like him settling for jumpers. I feel like we are back to Chris dominating the ball with blake hanging out. Good things happen when the offense runs through him. His foul shooting was also atrocious last night and hasn't been as sharp the last few games.

Clippersfan86

03/05/2014 - 11:47 AM PST

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What I see too. Back to ball watching CP3, settling for jumpers and not attacking enough. Also agree with an odd, random FT regression lately.

Kerley

03/05/2014 - 11:58 AM PST

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I think like many good scorers they hit cool streaks. Blake has looked off over the last couple of games. His jumper wasn't falling and his moves inside weren't as crisp and fast.

I agree, we need to go to Blake first and often, but CP3 and the other guys can tell when Blake isn't be effective. Barnes echoed that in his post game. But I agree, I've been saying this since 2 years ago, this team will go as Blake goes. When Blake is being aggressive this team can not be beat. When he defers it's an opportunity for the other team.

Agent0

03/05/2014 - 12:18 PM PST

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The pace he was at was pretty high. Perception is reality though, because he's scoring less, the assumption gets made that it is due to him not getting touches. Blake hasn't been getting less touches lately actually, but he's been scoring less points, so why? He's still getting to control the ball in transition, and is still the focal go to scoring option on offense.

Blake has just been making less shots lately to be honest in addition to some foul trouble and some lengthy teams that aren't the best matchups for him to just destroy.

Let's look at the last 5 games:

OKC: foul trouble, 20 pts on 6/15 FG and 7/10 FT

NOP: foul trouble, 22 pts on 6/12 FG and 10/14 FT

HOU: kept him off the FT line, 23 pts on 11/25 FG and 1/1 FT

NOP: blow out, 20 pts on 8/17 FG and 4/6 FT

PHO: 22 pts, 9/18 FG, 4/8 FT

First New Orleans game he would have scored more if he didn't have so many fouls. Second game they adjusted to him just running down the floor and sealing Davis, and due to the blow-out, the team didn't consistently stick the starters on.

Houston defended him as well as you could, he took 25 FGA and they kept him off the FT line, that's just good defense, and that Dwight guy kinda helps. Last nights game he was taking a few too many jumpshots from mid-post isolation sets, and 6/8 FT shooting and 55% FGA makes that a 26 point game instead of a 22 point game. He had the touches to put up scoring numbers, he just didn't hit enough.

The focus of our offense isn't to force feed Blake and see how many points he can score, but it's a wrong conclusion to say Blake hasn't recently been getting enough touches and/or enough shots to still be scoring 25+ each night.

Blake has averaged 17.4 FGA and 7.6 FTA over the past 5 games in 35.6 MPG, but he's shooting 46% FG and 66.7% FT,,so he's only averaging 21.4 PPG.

You certainly couldn't have expected the 21.5 FGA (57.6% FG) and 12.3 FTA (66.3% FT, not so great) he averaged in February before the OKC game to continue for the rest of the season. That's just not realistic on this team. He's normalizing back to what his new norm is, which is a 25 PPG range scorer on a good team. Sure, on a bad team where there's no other options, it is a different story.

In January he averaged 16.8 FGA and 9.6 FTA, but he shot 55.4% FG and 72.1% FT, so he averaged 25.7 PPG instead, so it's certainly not because of a lack of shots or touches. The shots are there, and Blake gets the ball a lot in a game.

namzug

03/05/2014 - 12:22 PM PST

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I agree with that, playing inside out always sounds like a better plan to me too. Personally I think Blake is a much more imposing offensive force this year than CP. We should continue to feed Blake, but I also like when CP is aggressive too.

If they find a good mix I think it will be near impossible to stop them together. I think they are closer than other great duos in the league. I see Lebron and Wade just had to settle with more Lebron and only break Wade glass in case of an emergency. Durant and Westbrook are great but don't think they have ever meshed that great on the floor (as playing off of each other, they do feed the hot hand well though). Harden and Dwight are coming along a lot quicker than I had expected, but luckily Harden only plays on one side of the court. The best duo in the league would probably have to be Parker and Duncan (in regards to playing with and off of each other), which I think it is mainly due to their coach.

If Doc could get them on some type of system on when to push with Blake and when to switch back CP, and when to attack with double team with pick and roll that would be great. Duncan and Parker don't seem to ever be in each others way, while a lot of the other great duos don't seem to have that fluid motion. I'm not saying to copy their style, just would like them to have a more systematic approach when to feed who. If Blake is killing it, keep feeding him then add a few fakes. Make them pay for any and all double teams. Make teams have nightmares about Blake in transition, and Guards having to stop CP from penetrating.

CP3Heliflopter

03/05/2014 - 12:26 PM PST

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Blake is playing the same as before. The difference is he is struggling offensively and was in serious foul trouble against the Pelicans and Thunder so he was very passive in those games. He is in a slump after his hot streak. He will get out of his slump soon enough. He has missed a lot of easy shots that he normally makes and his jumper is off but I am not worried. Not to mention the Thunder, Rockets and Suns did a good job limiting him. Anthony Davis is also a tough matchup.

clipper*joe

03/05/2014 - 12:33 PM PST

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Totally agree. I'd also add that BG seems like he's adjusting just like Durant was when Westbrick returned. While his shot looks a little off, defense is lacking, and his post game looks hesitant again, he seems to be passing better than he ever has. A lot of barnes' shots came from BG finding him.

Agent0

03/05/2014 - 12:33 PM PST

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Yup, you usually just can't kill everyone. Before the OKC game he was averaging 21.5 FGA and 12.3 FTA in 36 minutes in February, that's not really easy to maintain over a long period, especially shooting 57.6% FG. If you're hot, usually you get a little below your averages and that brings you back to your norm. Blake's norm is no looking like a 25 PPG scorer, but not a 30+ PPG scorer in just 36 minutes.

Even Durants career high per 36 is this year at 29.8 pts/36. The closest he got before was 27.5 pts/36, so you have to realize that you're expecting Blake to maintain a scoring rate that is pretty high. Sure, if he was playing 40-42 minutes, you could expect more, but at 35-36 minutes, even Lebron and Durant aren't regularly going over 25-26 pts/36.

CapsNClips

03/05/2014 - 12:37 PM PST

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So a five game streak of 20+ points is considered a slump now? Interesting. I hope his slump continues throughout the rest of the season.

Clippersfan86

03/05/2014 - 12:37 PM PST

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Agent good post. I was mainly going off eye test but it's nice to see the numbers in comparison. It seems to boil down to Blake being less efficient, not a smaller role in the offense. I still stand by the idea that running the offense through the post, rather than the jumper is vital if we want to have any playoff success. We sometimes become way too jumpshot happy, yet lack the shooters of say OKC/GS/SA to get away with it. So that means Blake getting back to being more efficient. Shooting 46 percent over 5 games for a big is pretty damn bad, especially one that shoots like 53 or 54 percent career.

Clippersfan86

03/05/2014 - 12:39 PM PST

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When you were averaging 31 for the month of February.. yes. Although I'm one of Blake's biggest and most loyal backers around this forum, so obviously I'm not calling him out. Just making discussion.

clipperboy24

03/05/2014 - 12:42 PM PST

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Me too. I think the key for long term success is Blake being the #1 option. One thing that was killing us last night was when we missed the longer jumpers it basically turbo started their fast breaks. It should be inside first which opens up the outside not the other way around.

Agent0

03/05/2014 - 12:44 PM PST

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Yea, he's just had a little struggle making some shots lately. If he shot 54% FG and 70% FT, his season averages in that same span, then that would have him averaging 24 PPG over the last 5 games in the midst of foul trouble, and in a blow out game where there wasn't as big of a focus in going to the big guns.

So I think he's fine. I agree we should run inside out, and I think for the most part the team is sticking to that.

Oh, and don't say shooting 46% is bad to LaMarcus Aldridge

Agent0

03/05/2014 - 12:46 PM PST

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I think especially with Blake it is because when he misses, a lot of the time, he misses short and front rim, so it's these super fast rebounds that you can easily collect and get going, but Phoenix also does push the pace at almost any opportunity anyways.

CP3Heliflopter

03/05/2014 - 12:57 PM PST

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The good thing is Blake will have a very good opportunity to get out of his slump against the porous Lakers.

Honestly the only thing that I am worried about is Blake's work on the defensive glass.

CapsNClips

03/05/2014 - 01:06 PM PST

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To show just how much Blake has improved. Last year his best 20+ point game stretch was three, this year his last five 20+ point games are considered a "slump"

I see why you guys want Blake to be as dominant as he was when Chris was out, but I'm much happier with our once crappier players like Barnes get his shot back which will be very helpful in the playoffs.

clipperboy24

03/05/2014 - 01:10 PM PST

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Yep it's a double whammy. He isn't in a good position to rebound and it comes off the rim hot. Those 3 pointers are deadly when they aren't dropping and really hurt us.

06clippersfan

03/05/2014 - 01:12 PM PST

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I am not worried about Blake. Phoenix has sagged off DJ both games we played them making it seem like a double team. That is why Blake has been settling for jumpers. But I would like to see him be aggressive and go to the rim and lob it to DJ or find the open shooter.

I also do not like the ball dominating by CP3. I think we can all agree our offense did not suck last year bc of Vinny more bc of CP3 and him dominating the ball, like he is doing this year. With that said, it is dumb for people to be saying to trade CP3. We are a playoff team without him, but not a championship team.

cleepers

03/05/2014 - 01:16 PM PST

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Agree with Agent. Even before I saw the numbers, my eyes were telling me that Blake is still undoubtedly the first option. After a scorching month, teams are doing their utmost to stop him from scoring...packing the paint and making him kick out.

Although correlation doesn't necessarily equal causation, it's quite a coincidence that our jumpshooters are performing better as Blake's production has dropped off. Better looks will usually lead to better percentages. I'm all for him being aggressive, but he also has to play smart. Some games, he looks like he's forcing the issue of trying to score, other times he's doling out assists like a point-guard. We don't need him to drop 30 every night, just be able to recognize when he can score at will and when he'd be more effective dropping dimes.

This is the "pick-your-poison" team that Doc envisaged from the beginning. When Jamal and JJ are back, the outside shooting should become more consistent, opening the paint up for Blake again. Good times.

FightOnRon

03/05/2014 - 01:23 PM PST

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That's more what I was thinking,keep this slump alive.

Blake doesn't have to be the "it" guy for every game with CP3 there,he isn't the last resort for CP3 to feed like the way he is for some subs,IMO what happens is Darren or whomever take the PG position relies more on BG32 because is is so good,CP3 relies more on whomever is hot and Blake as his fallback go to guy.

jarca

03/05/2014 - 01:23 PM PST

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hes aggressive and getting touches but his shot isn't falling. That's all I can ask for him is to give 100% each game.

Icecoldclipper

03/05/2014 - 01:46 PM PST

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I want the rebounds if both bigs crash hard and the wings help out we can be dangerous. Just limiting the offensive rebounds to single digits per game would do wonders.

ClipperPostman

03/05/2014 - 01:47 PM PST

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I think we all enjoyed seeing Blake beast and dominate

opposing teams. But the reality is it didn't translate

into beating good teams. In fact we lost almost all of those

games.

Blakes scoring increase was the result of necessity. You take

out CP3 and JJ, you lose a lot of scoring which Blake and Crawford

had to make up for.

The reality is the team looks better with CP3 out there. which is why

we have beat OKC, Portland, Houston, and PHX with Paul in there.

It's not "Coincidence.

I take wins over individual stats.

One more thing, Barnes having to be on fire to win isn't because

Blake isn't scoring 30ppg. It's because #2 and #3 scorers are

out.

Add in crawfords 20pts and barnes needs to score 8-10 ppg for

us to win.

CapsNClips

03/05/2014 - 02:44 PM PST

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Speaking of Blake, when do we find out that he won February Player Of The Month? I'm optimistic he'll get it.

wessleejr

03/05/2014 - 03:01 PM PST

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Blake is not so good since CP3 is back but he is not also bad, His scoring is fine.

CapsNClips

03/05/2014 - 03:28 PM PST

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The last 6 games we got a lot of production from Barnes. So basically Blake hasn't had to be a one man show like before. Blake is still leading the NBA in +/- in the last 6 games.